Automatic fire preventer and extinguisher.



fu-".5 EXTINQUSHERS.

H. D. MILLER & S. B. LIPPINCOIT.

AUTOMATIC FIRE PREVEN'IER AND EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE I2. 19H.

1 ,266,034. l Patented May14,19l8.

2 SHEETS--SHEEI 2.

UNTED STATES PATENT carros.

HENRY DAVID MILLER, or LAWTON, AND SAMUEL BUDD LIPPINOOTT, or OKLAHOMA,OKLAHOMA.

AUTOMATIC FIRE PREVENTER ANI) EXTINGUISHER.

Application led June 12,1917.

T o all uzoml 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY D ivn) MIL LER and SAMUEL BUDD Lirrixeo'rr,citizens of the United States, and residents of Lawton. in the county ofComanche and State of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma city. in the county ofOklahoma and State ot' Oklahoma, respectively, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Fire Preventers and Extinguishers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Our invention is an improvement in auto matic fire extinguishers. andhas for its object to provide mechanism especially adapted for use withoil tanks, Or in other inclosed spaces for preventing the igniting ofthe oil or material in said inelosed spaces, wherein means is providedfor generating carbon dioxid gas and for discharging it into the tank orother inclosure, the said means being normally inoperative, andcontrolled by electric discharges, or by rise of temperature above apredetermined point in the tank or inclosure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, with parts in section, of oneembodiment of the invention Fig. 2 is a similar view of anotherembodiment;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a circuit closing device.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the tank 1 isprovided with a gas discharge pipe 2, leading to the ground, and to asuitable point ot discharge, and having interposed therein a pressurevalve 3, which is designed to permit. the escape of the gas and preventthe entrance of air to the tank.

A suitable container 4 is arranged at a distance from the tank, the saidcontainer being adapted to hold a strong solution of sodium bicarbonate,and within the container is arranged a bottle or jar 5 which is providedwith two necks G and 7, respectively. A pipe. 8 extends into the neck6', and the neck 7 is closed by a loose acid-proof cap 9. This pipe 8extends into a closed receptacle 10 which is arranged above thecontainer l1, and the pipe 8 has an enlargement 11 within thereceptacle. A water tank 12 is supported above the receptacle 10, andthe said tank 12 has a discharge pipe 13 leading Specification OfLetters Paten-t.

Patented May let, 1918.

Serial No. 174,277.

from its bottom, and extending into the receptacle 10, and opening intothe enlargement 11 of the pipe S.

A fusible plug 11 closes the discharge end of the pipe l", so that undernormal conditions no water will flow from the tank into the bottle 5.This bottle is adapted to contain sulfuric acid, and it will be obviousthat when water passes. into the bottle, under conditions to bepresently described, the cap 9 will be displaced, and the dilute acidwill flow int-o the bicarbonate solution, and carbon diOXid will begenerated.

A discharge pipe 15 for the carbon dioXid leads from the top of thecontainer 4, and opens into another pipe 16 intermediate the top andbottom of the tank. This pipe 16 extends through the top of the tank,and is provided with a cross 17 within the tank, the arms of the crosshaving openings for permitting the gas to discharge into the tank abovethe level of the Oil.

The fusible plug 14 is intended to be fused by the Haine of a gas burner18 which is arranged within the receptacle 10 and is supplied with gasby a suitable pipe 19, a. controlling valve 2O being provided forControlling the supply of gas to the burner. The burner is designed tobe ignited by an electric spark, and a. spark gap is provided just above.the burner and in position to ignite the gas when a spark jumps thegap. The spark gap is between the electrodes 21 and 22 which aresupported by the walls of the receptacle 10, the said electrodes eX-tending from opposite sides of the receptacle and being insulated fromthe wall oi the receptacle. Vhen the gas at the burner is ignited by aspark at the spark gap, the pipe 11 will be heated and the plug 1-1 willbe fused. The electrode 22 is grounded, as indicate-d at 23, and theelectrode 9.1 is connected with an aerial 241 composed Oi a` series ofwires supported by cross arms Q5 on poles QG arranged at Opposite sidesof the tank, the arrangement being such that the aerial is stretchedabove the tank It will be Obvious that at the approach of a thunderstorm, static electricity will be discharged by the aerial through thelead wire 27 which connects the same with the electrode 21, and as thesparks pass the gap between the electrodes 21 and 29. the gas will beignited. The heat generated bv the burner will fuse the plug 1-1. andwater will discharge from the tank 1'2 into the bottle A dilute solutionot sulfuric acid will displace the cap 9 and will llow into the solutionof sodium bicarbonate. tarbon dioxid gas will be generated, and willflow through the pipes 15 and 1G and the. cross` 1T into the tank abovethe oil, forcing out the, gas and air in thetank through tbe pipe "2 anddiluting the gas and air to such a pointthat it will not bc ignited bj'lightning.

1n cases where it is desired to discharge a mixture of water and carbondioxid, the` pipe 15 may be connected with the bottom ot' the container4. 1n order to insure that the water will flow from the tank 12 into'the bottle regardless ot' the pressure in the container 1, thedischarge pipe 15 is connected to the -tank l2 b v means o'tl a pipe 30,and a valve 31 is interposed in said pipe for -controlling the same.

The pipe l5 is also provided with a valve 32 for permitting the same tobe closed during cleaning and the like. The container 10 has an outletfor the gases ot combustion, and the receptacle 1 has an opening in itstop which is closed by a cover 3l.

In Fig. 2 is shown an arrangement wherein the device is electricallycontrolled from a suitable source of electric energy as. for instance. abattery. ln this ar angement the receptacle 35 for the bicarbonatesolution has therein a two-necked bottle 36, a'pipe 37 corresponding tothe pipe 8 ot Fig. 1 leading into one neck. while the other is closed bya loose cap 38. The pipe 3T has the enlargemci'it 3S in the container39, and the pipe 40 from the vater tank 41 opens into the enlargement,extending through the wall of the container 39. rThis pipe 10 has afusible plug 42 in the enlargement, and an electric heater L13 isarranged below the enlargement.

Circuit closcrs 11, shown more particularlj7 in Fig. 3. are arranged incircuit with the heater 13. These close rs consist. oli bulbs -l-lcontaining mercury. and one, lead wire 45 of the circuit. extends intothe mercury. The other lead wire '-16 is connected with a contact rodet? which is adjustabljv held in the top of the bulb b v a set screw41S. rl"his rod does not normally contact with the mercury, but isadapted to contact therewith when the mcrcur)` is subjected to apredetermined beat. The bulb has adjacent thereto a scale, indicated at1S, for indicating the temperature, and the rod 1T may be arrested forContact with the mercuryv aty any dcsired point.

With the above described arrangement, a number .of tanks or otherinclosures may be protected, one of the circuit closing devices -1-lbeing arranged in cach tank or inclof-:ure It will be obvious that whenan)7 circuit.l

. M 1..... .-1. draf,... ,runway n Mw v closer is operated to close thecircuit. through .the heater 423, the said heater will fuse the plug -LQand water will flow in'to the bottle mi. diluting the acid which willpass out, displacing the cap 3S and carbon dioxid will be generated. u Asignal eti). in the present instance, a bell, is branched on tothecircuit 11o-16, of each circuit closer, as indicated at. 50, and it willbe noticed that the arrangen'ient is such that each signal is inparallel with the circuit closer. Either or both branch circuits 50 mayhave interposed therein a battery, as indicated at 51. lVhe're more thanone tank or room is to be protected. a heater casing indicated at is'provided for each tank or room. Into these casings pipes 53 extend.said pipes correspoiuling to the pipe 15 of the construction of Fig. 1.that is, the said pipes deliver carbon dioxid to the tanks or rooms.

Each pipe 53 opens into an enlargement 51- of a pipe 55 which extendsfrom the receptacle 35. Each of the pipes carries a fusible plug 56 inthe enlargement 51, and an electric heater 5T is arranged below eachenlargement within the casing. These. heaters are branched on to thecircuit -15-16, as indicated at 5S, so that when a circuit closer 44; isoperated the plugs 5G will be fused7 thus opening a direct way for thecarbon dioxid from the receptacle to the respective rooms or tanks.rl.`he plugs 56 are arranged to fuse ata lower temperature than the plug42, and the heaters 57 generate more heat and more quickly. so that thecarbon dioxid pipes 53 are open to the tire when the carbon dioxidgenerator begins action. These heaters 57 are in parallel with theheater 13, with the circuit closers and with the signals 49.

Suitable sources 59 of electric energv are Y arranged within tbecircuit. The signals 4f) may be arranged wherever desired to give thealarm.

The improved device shown in 'F ig. l provides tor a continuousreduction ot the amount ot oxygen in the tank and ot' the amount ot'natural gas supplying carbon dioxid gas whenever there is daiiger fromlightning. The improvement provides for automatically flushing the tankwith carbon dioxid gas when an electric storm approaches. lhe aerialwires. by continually gathering the static charges as they form. anddischarging them to the earth. prevent sullieient static electricitygathering above the tank to canse a stroke of lightning.

lfhe device otl Fig. is especialljY desirable for buildings, because ofthe lact that there is no injury b v water.r the only damage being thatdue to the lire.

lt will be understood that sodium carbonate may be used instead otl.sodium bicarbonate1 if desired. and a solution ot solOl) diumbicarbonate mav be substituted for n'ater in the tank 12 of Fig. l or inthe tank il of liig. 2.

An oil lainp ma)y be used it desired. and

5 the electrical connections and grouping of heater 43 and heater 5Tma)- be changed. so that the circuit closer tt may closey the circuitfor as man)v heaters 5T desired. or'

may be changed so that cach circuit closer iotal. majv operate theheater -iand one or more heaters 5T.

It ivill be understood that the device is primarily a tire preventer.being especially adapted to prevent oil tires. but arranged l5 toextinguish a tire if a tire should be started. It should also beunderstood that in both embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. land 2, the carlum dioxid generator is the saine and the generated gas isused for 2o the same purposes of flooding an incloscd space to driveoutl the oxygen and discourage combustion. rl"he only ditt'erence liesin the method of fusing the water plugs 1d and 56. In Fig. 1 the plug 1tis fused by the heat from the spark ati-the gap 2l-522,

While in Fig. 2, the plug -tis fused by the heating coil The apparatusin Fig. 1 is adapted to outdoor Work since the illuminating gas from theburner 1S must constantly escape. Ob-

viously, this feature would be objectionable indoors. The arrangementshown in Fig. Q- is particularlyY adapted to indoors since there is notthe objection of the escaping 3.5 llere the fusion of the ivater plugsis thermostatically controlled. y

7e claim:

1. An automatic tire extinguisher foroil tanks comprising incombination. a receptacle containing a solution of sodium bicarbonateand having an outlet delivering to the tank. a liar for sulfuric acid inthe receptacle and having a discharge at its top delivering to thereceptacle. a burner casing provided with a burner. a pipe. leading fromthe `iar and extending into the casing above the burner. a tank otivater having a discharge pipe leading into the last named pipe in theburner casing. said pipe being normallv closed b v a fusible plugivithin the pipe from the receptacle. au electric circuit having a sparkgap in the burner casing at the burner. an aerial above the tank. thecircuit being connected at one end to the aerial and grounded at theother.

2. An automatic fire extinguisher for oil tanks comprising incombination. a receptacle containing a solution oli sodium bicarbonateand having an outlet delivering to (5o the tank. a jar for sulfuric acidin the receptacle and having a discharge at its top delivering to thereceptacle. a burner casing provided with a burner. a pipe leading fromthe jar and extending into the casing above 4c5 the burner, a tank otwater having a distric circuit. having a spark gap in the burner ccasing at the burner. i

3. i\n automatic tire extinguisher coniprising a receptacle containing asolution of sodium bicarbonate and having an outlet delivering to theplace where the tire is to be controlled, a ar for sulfuric acid in thereceptacle and having a discharge at its top deliveringto thereceptacle, a ivater supply delivering to the jar, a fusible plugnormally closing the said supply. a gas burner for fusing the. plug, andan electric circuit having a spark gap at the gas burner for ignitingthe gas. i

4f. An automatic tire extinguisher' comprising a receptacle containing asolution of sodium bicarbonate and having an outlet delivering to theplace Where the tire is to be controlled, a j ar for sulfuric acid inthe re ceptaele and having a discharge at its top delivering to thereceptacle, a Water supply delivering to the jar, a fusible plug normallv closing the said supply, a gas burner for fusing the plug, anelectric circuit having a spark gap at the gas burner for igniting thegas. and a net-work of ivires above the tank and connected to thecircuit.

5. An automatic fire preventer for oil tanks. comprising means normallyinoperative for generating carbon dioxid gas and delivering to the spaceabove the oil in the tank, heat controlled means for actuating thegenerating means. and electricall)v controlled means for putting theheat controlled means into operation. 4

G. The combination with an oil tank. of means normally inoperative forgenerating carbon dioxid gas and delivering it to the tank above the oiltherein. heat controlled means for actuating the generatii'ig means. andan aerial above the tank, said aerial bcing grounded, and electricallycontrolled means interposed betiveeu the aerial and the ground foroperating the heat controlled means.

7. ln a tire preventing device, the coni'- bination ivith an oil tank.an aerial arranged to gather a charge of static electricity from aroundthe tank to protect the tank. and normallY inoperative means affected bv the gathering charge. for generating carbon dioxid gas and floodingthe space above, the oil in the tank.

S. In a tire preventing device. the combination ivith an oil tanl anaerial arranged to convey a charge ot static electricity from above thetank. normally inactive means in for actuating Suid generating means,and uu decil-ic ciicuil' includingl u luut producing menus, operativo tofus tho iisiblc n'ipuus, upon ouoigizution of Saud electric circuit.

HENK Y DAVID M1 LLER. SAMUEL BUDD LIIPINCOTT.

\\'itu0 s0s:

HARRY V Imis, LOYAL J. MILLER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for v v Washington, D. C."

